9:48am
Today’s the day. I can feel it.
I didn’t bring my laptop today for two reasons. #1 I’m going to see a movie tonight at the IFC Center so I wouldn’t want to lug it around. #2 The case might settle (fingers crossed) and I’d get out of here early enough to go to work.
P.S. I hear the beeping.
Darn it. I wrote a bunch of stuff and it disappeared. The picture above is of the rows of chairs that are all out if whack. Just taking 10 minutes at the end of the day to straighten them out would do the trick.
10:08am
A guy is listening to “Push It” loud on his headphones. Wait. No. He’s watching the video on his laptop without headphones. Seriously, dude.
Oh no! Another earthquake in Chile!
10:22am
Called! No settle. We are upstairs on the 4th floor in a obvious jury deliberation room. (I’ve seen enough Law & Order episodes to know) We are awaiting instructions.
10:32am
Quotes from the room: “I really hope they settled.” “I think this could be a long one.”
There is our own bathroom in here so we don’t leave! You can hear it all too. YIKES!
10:52am
They certainly love drama. An officer comes into the room and tells us to leave our personal belongings and come out into the hall and line up. I, along with most people, brought my cell phone. After lining up, (I took the first spot, I thought, what the hell, why not?) and we wait. The officer the leads us to the court room, then stops us outside the door. We wait. After a minute or so, he leads us in. I’m in the back row.
The judge, in a very slow and deliberate voice, apologizes. He then begins to thank us for our patience because after all this, the case has been settled. Apparently there was a gap in communication, and we were not supposed to be in on Wednesday. He told the lawyers and somehow it was not communicated properly and we were in on Wednesday. They did not realize we were there until about 3pm when they called us and were were dismissed. He then goes on to thank us again because he believes that the case finally came to settlement because of the jury being picked.
He then asks us to share our experience in a positive way with family and friends. He is very appreciative that we have taken the time to be jurors and hopes that we may encourage others to serve as well. Then he came from behind the bench and shook each one of our hands. Yes, I’m a sucker and bought it hook, line and sinker.
I want to also say that everyone of the people were very pleasant and upbeat despite our situation. We all just laughed. What’s funny is that the officer as we were leaving kept asking us how long we were waiting. He just couldn’t believe it. He was laughing too. Apparently this is a rarity. Imagine that.
